Don’t just see it. Capture it.
Learn to create sharper, brighter and more engaging underwater photographs and videos while protecting the incredible marine life you came to capture.
Bring home more than memories
Underwater photography is about much more than pointing a camera and pressing a button. Light behaves differently, colours disappear with depth, subjects move and you must maintain excellent control without disturbing the reef.
The SSI Photo & Video Specialty helps you understand your camera, improve composition, work with underwater light and capture marine life responsibly. You will practise the techniques during two dives with an SSI professional.
You do not need an expensive professional camera. The techniques can be applied to action cameras, compact cameras and advanced systems.
Real wildlife. Real encounters. Better images.
Learn how to approach marine animals calmly, choose a strong composition and capture their natural behaviour without chasing, touching or crowding them.
Sea turtles of Diani
Practise patient approaches, natural-light photography and framing your subject within the reef environment.
Colourful reef residents
Work on focus, colour, composition and capturing behaviour without disturbing the animal.
Build the complete underwater shot
From dive control to post-production, every part of the course is designed to help you create stronger photographs and smoother video.
Camera setup
Prepare your camera and housing, understand essential settings and reduce the risk of floods, fogging or missed shots.
Buoyancy control
Maintain a stable shooting position while protecting coral, marine life and the seabed.
Composition
Use subject placement, perspective, negative space and backgrounds to create images with greater impact.
Light and colour
Understand how depth changes colour and how sunlight, video lights and strobes can improve your results.
Marine-life technique
Approach subjects slowly, anticipate behaviour and capture wildlife without stressing or disturbing it.
Editing workflow
Review your work and explore practical approaches to colour correction, selection and post-production.
Put the colour back into your pictures
Water absorbs light and colour. Red tones disappear first, followed by orange and yellow, which is why underwater images can quickly develop a strong blue or green appearance.
- Use natural light more effectively in shallow water.
- Understand when to use lights, strobes or colour correction.
- Reduce backscatter by improving your position and lighting angle.
- Choose the best distance and direction for your subject.
- Create more consistent photographs and video footage.
The techniques work with your equipment
Action cameras
Improve stability, positioning, lighting and shot planning for smoother, more watchable underwater footage.
Compact cameras
Learn how to move beyond automatic settings and get more control over exposure, white balance, focus and composition.
Advanced systems
Develop better control of manual settings, lenses, strobes and the complete underwater photography workflow.
Learn it, dive it, review it
Digital learning and briefing
Complete your SSI digital learning, discuss equipment and settings, and create a practical plan for your underwater shoot.
Camera preparation
Prepare the housing, check controls and seals, organise accessories and set up the camera for local conditions.
First practical dive
Practise buoyancy, subject approach, composition, camera positioning and controlled shooting under instructor supervision.
Review and refine
Review your results, identify improvements and adjust your technique or camera setup before the second dive.
Second practical dive
Put the feedback into practice and focus on creating a more deliberate, consistent collection of photographs or video clips.
Everything needed for a brilliant training day
SSI digital learning through the MySSI app
Two practical dives with an SSI Instructor
Standard scuba equipment, cylinders and weights
Photography and video coaching throughout the dives
Fruit, drinking water and snacks during the dive day
Local transfers within the Diani area
Course requirements
Photo & Video course FAQ
Do I need an expensive underwater camera?
No. You can develop your skills using an action camera, compact camera or more advanced underwater system. Tell Ocean Tribe what equipment you have when enquiring.
How long is the course?
The course normally takes one day and includes digital learning, briefings, camera preparation, two practical dives and image or footage review.
Where will the dives take place?
Training can take place in a pool or confined-water environment and at a suitable local reef or wreck. The final plan depends on conditions and the training needs of the group.
Do I need excellent buoyancy?
Comfortable buoyancy control will make photography much easier and help protect the reef. If you want to improve first, ask about combining your training with the SSI Perfect Buoyancy Specialty.
Will I learn how to edit my images?
The course introduces image and footage review, colour correction, selection and post-production principles. The emphasis remains on capturing the strongest possible material in the water.
Will the course teach responsible wildlife photography?
Yes. You will learn to maintain control, avoid contact with the reef and approach marine animals without chasing, touching, feeding or changing their natural behaviour.
Ready to take better underwater photographs and video?
Contact Ocean Tribe for upcoming course availability and tell us which camera system you would like to use.
